Companies will be able to get up close and personal with customers' reactions to their products thanks to a new lab at Ulster University.

The UX Lab uses technology to track biometrics including eye movement, heart rate and facial expressions - data which is then analysed by university staff.

The aim is to make technology, from mobile apps and games to digital devices, easier to use.

Dr Raymond Bond from the UU's computer science research institute said: "From small start-ups to large multi-nationals, Ulster University's UX lab is giving all companies across all sectors, direct access to world-leading expertise and advanced sensor technology that will ultimately enhance competitiveness in global markets."

HeartSine Technologies in Belfast has already worked with the university on audio instructions for its life-saving defibrillators.

Dr Rebecca Di Maio, clinical research manager at HeartSine Technologies, said clear instructions were crucial if the defibrillators were to help people survive cardiac arrest. "Working with Ulster University's UX Lab, we will continue to make this goal a reality with future generations of HeartSine defibrillators using highly intuitive interfaces to enhance user experience whilst saving lives."